nrf9160 Custom Board not connecting to Network (LTE) (Failed to connect to the LTE network, err -116)

[IsaiahTC]

I am running Basic Networking example  (https://github.com/craigpeacock/nRF9160_Examples/tree/main/BasicNetworking). I am using Vodacom SIM card in South Africa. The program works well on the DK but does not connect to network. I have attached the output I am getting. 

*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v2.5.1 ***

nRF9160 Basic Networking Example (hello_board)
Modem FW Ver: mfw_nrf9160_1.2.8
IMEI: 350457791634205
SIM ICCID: 89254900000008155820
Waiting for network... +CEREG: 2,"FFFE","FFFFFFFF",7,0,0,"11100000","11100000"
+CEREG: 0,"FFFE","FFFFFFFF",7,0,0,"11100000","11100000"
+CEREG: 2,"FFFE","FFFFFFFF",9,0,0,"11100000","11100000"
Failed to connect to the LTE network, err -116

[Charlie]

Hi Isaiah,

Please try the following commands. The meaning of AT commands and responses are documented in nRF9160 AT Commands (nordicsemi.com).

> AT+CFUN?

+CFUN: 0

OK
> AT+CEREG=5

OK
> AT%XSYSTEMMODE=1,1,1,0

OK
> AT+CFUN=1

OK

+CEREG: 2,"81A3","03238D0A",7

+CEREG: 1,"81A3","03238D0A",7,0,2,"11100000","11100000"
> AT+CESQ

+CESQ: 99,99,255,255,15,73

OK

Best regards,

Charlie

[IsaiahTC]

Hi Charlie, 

I have run the commands,

*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v2.5.1 ***
The AT host sample started
Ready
> AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 0
OK
> AT+CEREG=5
OK
> AT%XSYSTEMMODE=1,1,1,0
OK
> AT+CFUN=1
OK
+CEREG: 4
> AT+CESQ
+CESQ: 99,99,255,255,255,255
OK

Cheers,

Isaiah

[Charlie]

Could you see more CEREG notifications like "+CEREG: 2,"81A3","03238D0A",7" after a while?

If you check AT+CESQ meaning, what you got means no signal at all in your area. It means either that antenna does not work or SIM card issue.

[IsaiahTC]

From the board review, the antenna was the one that was suspected to be problematic. So I will try fixing it.

Thank you for your help